Strengthening attachment for bicycles



(Noy Model.)

C. FOEHL. STRBNGTHENTNG ATTACHMENT TOR BIGYGLES. No. 576,566.

Patented Feb. 9, 1897.

WITN ESSES:

M, J Q. mv.

ATTRNEY.

Nrrnn STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FOEI-IL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STRENGTHENING ATTACHMENT FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,566, dated February 9, 1897. Application filed January/|23, 1896. Serial No. 576,522. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may coltccrt:

Be it known that I, OHARLEs FOEHL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Strengthening Attachments for Bicycles, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to bicycles; and it consists in a novel construction of an attachment therefor which is designed to strengthen the fork with respect to the backbone of the frame adjacent to the point of junction with each other, thereby reducing the liability of breakage at this point to a minimum.

It also consists of anovel manner of mounting and assembling the above parts whereby friction is reduced to a minimum, at the same time allowing` the requisite freedom of movement to said parts.

It also consists of novel means forenabling the bicycle to be guided forward in a straight line when so desired without necessitating manipulation of the handle-bar by the rider.

It further consists of novel details of construction, all as will be hereinafter set forth.

Figure l represents a perspective view of a strengthening attachment for abicycle embodying my invention and a portion of a bicycle-frame to which the same is applicable. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of a portion of the backbone of a bicycle, the other parts being shown in sections. Fig. 3 represents a front elevation of a portion of the device seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 represents a section, on an enlarged scale, on line a; Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a perspective View of a dog employed, shown in detached position.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several iigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a fork fora bicycle, and B the backbone, brace, or reach of the bicycle-frame, attached thereto at an angle, as is customary, the vpoint of their junction having been found to be the weakest portion of the bicycle-frame.

C designates the strengthening device complete, the same consisting of the bent-wire yoke D, which is curved for a portion of its length in the arc of a circle, the terminals E of which engage the clips F, which construction will be understood from Fig. 1, said clips having limbs G, which pass freely around and engage the limbs of the bicycle-fork, the terminals F. of the yoke passing through the sides of the clips, and beingheld in position.

1I designates an eye which depends from the plug J, which is rotatably mounted in the block P, the yoke D passing through said eye.

K designates a laterally-extending ila-nge attached to the plug J, which, when the parts are in place, is held in position between the antifriction-ball rollers L and M, the said rollers L being held between said flange and the base of the block, while the rollers M are retained in position between the bottom of the flange K and the ring N, which is screwed into engagement with the socket in the block P, as will be understood from Fig. 2, in which the parts are shown in assembled position.

Q designates a screw or bolt or other device which is adapted to pass through said block P and engage the backbone B, as will seen be from Fig. 2, said backbone or frame B at the point R, where it is engaged by the screw Q, being thickened, if desired, for strengthening.

S designates a notch in the yoke D in its substantially central or midway portion, said notch being engaged by the nose U of the dog T, which latter has a body portion V, which passes through the eye II and has an extension lV, of reduced diameter, which passes through the spring X, the latter having one end attached to said block P, while its free end is adapted to bear upon the body V of the dog T, as will be understood from Fig. 2, thereby causing the nose U to be always in positive contact with the spring D, and when the parts are in the position'seen in Fig. 4l it will be evident that the forward wheel is locked in substantial alinement with the rear wheel, wherebyit will travel in a straight line and allow the rider the free use of his hands when need be. The nose of the dog can, how ever, be readily disengaged from the spring V Whenever it is desired to turn the forward Wheel in either direction in the act of steering.

It will be noted that the hole in the eye II, through which the spring D passes, is tapered IOO at its extremities in order to allow the requisite freedom of movement.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing that the frame of the bicycle is materially strengthened at its Weakest point by the employment of the yoke and its adjuncts, said yoke fol* lowing every movement of the fork and playing freely in the eye Il of the plug J, which latter is also freely movable in the block P by reason of the ball-bearings.

The movement of the plug J is occasioned by thc vibrations of the yoke D and in fact of the entire frame, owing to the passage of the yoke through the eye of the plug. To avoid binding of the plug J in the block P, there are interposed between the plug and block the ball-bearings or rollers L M, which permit. the plug to turn with the greatest freedom, the effect of which is evident.

The pin Y, which is attached to the spring X and has its end entering the block P, serves to maintain said spring and block in the same relative position at al1 times.

Vhile I have shown the plu T .l mounted in the ball-bearings in the manner described, it will be evident that various changes may be made in mounting and assembling the above parts, which will come Within the scope of my invention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited in every instance to the exact constructions I have herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bicycle, an oscillating plug adapted to be connected with the bicycleframe, and a yoke adapted to have its ends secured to the bicyclefork, said plug having an eye in which said yoke is movable, said parts being combined substantially as described.

2. In a bicycle, a rotatable plug having a bearing suitablysecured to the frame and provided With an eye, a yoke secured at its ends to the limbs of the fork, and movable in said eye, and a dog for holding said yoke locked to said eye, said parts being combined substantially as described.

3. In. a bicycle attachment, a plug suitably supported, a yoke passing therethrough and having its ends attached to the bicyclefork, the central portion of said yoke being provided With a notch or recess, a dog engaging said recess, and means for holding said dog normally in contact with said yoke, substantially as described.

l. In a bicycle attachment, the combination with the fork and frame of a bicycle, of a block attached thereto, a plug rotatably mounted in ball-bearings within said block, and a yoke movable in said plug, the free ends of said yoke being provided with clips adapted to cngage the bicycle-fork, substantially as dcscribed.

5. In an attaclnnent for bicycles, a block adapted to be secured to a bicycle-frame, a plug mounted in said block, a yoke having a recess therein movable in an eye depending from said plug, adog adapted to engage said recess, and a spring for holding said dog in position, in combination with clips on the free ends of said yoke adapted to engage the fork of the bicycle, substantially as described.

CHARLES FOEIIL. lVitnesses JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, WM. C. WIEDERSHEIM. 

